Android 15's 'make all apps dark' feature will force apps to go dark

Tired of those stubborn apps that refuse to embrace the dark side? Android 15 is coming to the rescue with a game-changing “make all apps dark” feature that will force apps to go dark, even if the developers haven’t included a built-in dark mode option.

Android has supported system-wide dark mode for a while now, and most popular apps have followed suit. But there are always those few holdouts that cling to their eye-straining brightness — think Fitbit or Amazon Shopping. But with a new feature hidden within the latest Android 15 beta 1.2, you’ll soon have the power to bend these apps to your will.

According to Android Authority, the new “make all apps dark” is an upgrade over the current “override force-dark” option buried in the Developer settings. Google’s existing force-dark option analyzes light-themed apps and imposes a dark theme, but developers can easily opt out, leaving some apps stubbornly bright.

The new “make all apps dark” toggle works differently. It seems to use a similar approach to the old “override force-dark” with some clever behind-the-scenes tweaks to make it work on even more apps. Plus, since it’s slotted into the Accessibility settings, it’s clear Google intends for everyone to use this, not just developers. This new feature isn’t quite perfect, though. Apparently, it can sometimes reduce contrast on buttons or icons. But based on initial tests, it handles difficult apps like Fitbit with much more grace than the old “override force-dark” option.

While the option to force apps to go dark isn’t yet available in the current Android 15 beta, it might go live soon, possibly during Google I/O 2024 next month. The feature seems ready to roll out, so it’s likely just a matter of Google flipping the switch to make it visible to users. For true dark-mode enthusiasts like yours truly, this is a dream come true.